A theory based examination of factors associated with male body hair removal.

Male body hair removal has implications for men's mental health such as anxiety about body image. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and relevant additional constructs, this research examined factors associated with young men's upper body and pubic hair removal. Young men residing in Australia completed a pilot survey, online survey (N = 655) of predictors of intention (plans) to remove body hair and a 4-week follow up survey (n = 222) reporting body hair removal behaviour. Attitudes about body hair removal, pressure from others, perceptions of control and similarity to prototypical young men who removed body hair were associated with intention for upper body (60%) and pubic (48%) hair removal. Intention was significantly associated with body hair removal behaviours. These findings indicate social pressure was associated with young men's decisions to remove body hair, pointing to sources of potential intervention.

Hypertrichosis and Genital Rejuvenation: Cutaneous Adverse Events Associated with Pubic Hair Grooming.

Pubic hair grooming is practiced by women and men who consider themselves to have hypertrichosis of their genitals. Of the several modalities that can be used to remove the excess hair-the nonelectric razor is the most common. In addition to laceration, several other adverse cutaneous events have been observed in individuals who groom their own pubic hair.

Excess hair, hair removal methods, and barriers to care in gender minority patients: A survey study.

BACKGROUND: In gender minority patients, electrolysis and laser hair removal may be necessary to reduce facial and body hair in individuals seeking a more feminine appearance and/or modified gender expression. These procedures may also be required preoperatively for some gender-affirming surgeries. AIMS: To identify (a) the frequency of unwanted facial and body hair, (b) the use of various hair removal methods, and (c) associated barriers to care in gender minority patients. METHODS: An online-based patient survey was distributed via social media on Facebook® , YouTube® , and Instagram® in fall 2018. Respondents were at least 18 years old and self-identified as a gender minority. RESULTS: In total, 991 responses were recorded with a completion rate of 77%. Considering excess hair, 84% of transwomen on feminizing hormone therapy (FHT: estrogen and anti-androgen therapy), 100% of transwomen not on FHT, and 100% of nonbinary individuals on FHT reported excess facial/body hair. Laser hair removal (18%) and electrolysis (17%) had similar rates of use in this cohort and were more commonly reported for nonsurgical gender-affirming purposes than preoperative preparation. Cost was the most frequently cited barrier to care. CONCLUSION: As the majority of transwomen and nonbinary people on feminizing hormone therapy had persistent excess facial/body hair, routine use of gender-affirming hormones is not sufficient to fully eliminate unwanted hair. There remains a critical need to advocate for more comprehensive insurance coverage for laser hair removal and electrolysis in gender minority patients.

A full Brazilian or all natural: understanding the influences on young women's decision to remove their pubic hair.

BACKGROUND: Research indicates that young women are being exposed to increasing pressures to remove pubic hair from their bodies, which has the potential for both negative physical and psychological consequences. Women's personal choice and reasoning for partaking in pubic hair removal is influenced by broader social influences; however, there is little theory-based research drawing from established decision-making models investigating the underlying processes that lead young women to engage in pubic hair removal practices. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, it was hypothesised that 1) attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control would predict intention to remove pubic hair; 2) additional variables (prototype similarity and favourability) from the Prototype Willingness Model would significantly predict intention to remove pubic hair; 3) feminist values would significantly predict decreased intention to remove pubic hair; and 4) intention and perceived behavioural control would predict future self-reported removal of pubic hair. METHOD: The current study included a sample of 270 young women (17-25 years old), who completed an online survey and a follow up survey 4 weeks later (N = 96). RESULTS: Attitudes, perceived behavioural control, and similarity to prototypical pubic hair removers were significant predictors of intention to remove pubic hair. Intention was significantly positively associated and feminist values were significantly negatively associated with actual pubic hair removal. CONCLUSIONS: These findings align with Theory of Planned Behaviour propositions. Furthermore, the expansion of the model highlights how broader social images impact on young women when deciding whether to engage in a behaviour that is intimately associated with their body image.

Practices and complications of pubic hair removal among Saudi women.

BACKGROUND: Pubic hair grooming, including the complete removal of pubic hair, has become an increasingly common practice, particularly among young women. Although widespread, there is limited data regarding the methods, products, reasons, and complications of pubic hair removal, particularly among Saudi women. The objective was to examine pubic hair removal practices and the prevalence of its complications among Saudi women living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saudi women between 16 and 60 years of age who had the ability to read and speak Arabic, were eligible to complete an anonymous and self-administered survey on pubic hair removal practices and its complications. RESULTS: Between December 2015 and September 2016, 400 Saudi women completed the survey. The age was 26.3 ± 6.9, 16-58 (mean ± SD, range) years. About three quarters (77.0%) self-removed their pubic hair, while the remainder made use of professional personnel in medical clinics (15.5%), beauty salons (5.3%), and professional services at home (2.2%). Many women (41.8%) used a combination of hair removal methods, with non-electric razor as the most common single method used (33.5%), followed by laser (8.7%), sugaring (6.0%), waxing (4.5%), trimming (2.0%), electric razor (2.0%), and cream (1.5%). Three-quarters of women (75.5%) reported complications, and although they were mostly minor injuries, treatment had to be sought for 17.9% of complications. Multivariable analyses showed that no variables remained correlated with the occurrence of complications (age of starting hair removal, income, BMI, level of education, mode of removal, advice on removal). CONCLUSIONS: Saudi women initiate pubic hair removal in early adolescence. While most complications are minor, close to one in five women experience complications.

Risky business: is pubic hair removal by women associated with body image and sexual health?

Background Body hair removal is a behaviour that has become normative among women in Westernised cultures, and is presented by the media as the feminine ideal, despite being painful and a potential cause of infection. Of concern, removal may be part of a more global pattern of appearance dissatisfaction and risky sexual behaviour. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships among pubic hair removal, body image and sexual health indicators. METHODS: Women (n=264; Mage=33.82, s.d.=11.13, range=18-66) completed self-report questionnaires assessing these constructs, including an assessment of body hair removal practices. RESULTS: Greater appearance concerns (as measured by thin-ideal internalisation, appearance investment and self-objectification) and sexual health indicators (i.e. less condom use self-efficacy when a partner disapproves of condom use) all predicted greater importance of reasons for pubic hair removal (R2=0.315, F(8184)=9.97, P<0.001), controlling for age groups. Additionally, women who removed a greater amount of hair reported more thin-ideal internalisation and appearance investment than those who removed less hair. CONCLUSIONS: Women who express stronger reasoning for pubic hair removal, and remove a larger amount of it, may endorse problematic beliefs and behaviours particularly related to appearance concerns. It is important for practitioners to consider this practice as distinct from grooming and to be aware of its association with a broader array of risky beliefs and behaviours that can compromise women's well-being.

"I think gorilla-like back effusions of hair are rather a turn-off": 'Excessive hair' and male body hair (removal) discourse.

Men's hair removal practices are becoming mainstream, seen as a consequence of changing masculine norms and men's relationships to their bodies. This is often presented as a straightforward 'shift' from men's ideal bodies as naturally hairy, to increased hairlessness, and the consequence on men's body concerns as inevitable. This paper analyses qualitative survey data from Aotearoa/New Zealand using critical thematic analysis, and describes three themes. Two themes capture contradictory ideas: that men's body hair is natural, and that men's body hair is unpleasant. A third theme introduces the concept of 'excess' hair, which allowed sense-making of this contradiction, mandating men's grooming of 'excessive' hair. However its vagueness as a concept may provoke anxiety for men resulting in hair removal. This paper adds to a body of research demonstrating a cultural transition: the ways changing masculinities, increased commodification of male bodies, and shifting gender roles impact on men's hair removal practices.

The effects of different types of hair shaving on the body image and surgical site infection in elective cranial surgery.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of different types of shaving on body image and surgical site infection in elective cranial surgery. BACKGROUND: Hair shaving before cranial surgery is commonly performed in many countries. However, the impact of shaving on the patients' body image and surgical site infection is not, as yet, well investigated. DESIGN: A randomised-controlled design was used in this study. METHODS: The sample comprised 200 patients who underwent elective cranial surgery between March 2013-August 2014. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention criteria were applied for the preoperative preparation of patients and for the follow-up of surgical site infection. Wound swab cultures were obtained four times from all patients. The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale was used to assess changes in the body image of patients. FINDINGS: The rate of surgical site infection was 1% for each group and for all patients. There was no difference between the groups of surgical site infection. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus epidermidis were mostly isolated in the swab cultures. The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale score decreased in patients who underwent strip shaving and increased in patients with regional shaving. CONCLUSION: There is no difference between strip shaving and regional shaving in the development of surgical site infection after cranial surgery. In addition, regional hair shaving negatively affects the patients' body image. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Findings of this study provide useful evidence-based information for healthcare professionals. The development and implementation of effective interventions result in the prevention of surgical site infection and improvement of the patients' body image in elective cranial surgery.

Pubic hair preferences, reasons for removal, and associated genital symptoms: comparisons between men and women.

INTRODUCTION: Pubic hair grooming and removal are common behaviors among men and women. However, little is known about the reasons for grooming, preferred pubic hairstyle of sexual partners, and symptoms associated with regular grooming. AIMS: This study aims to assess pubic hair removal/grooming practices, pubic hairstyle preferences, and genital outcomes associated with pubic hair removal among men and women in a college sample. METHODS: Data were gathered from 1,110 participants (671 women and 439 men) at a large public Midwestern university and a small Southern public university. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Items assessed demographics, pubic hair grooming and removal practices in the past 4 weeks, reasons for pubic hair status, preference for pubic hairstyle of sexual partners, and symptoms associated with removal and grooming. RESULTS: Most (95%) participants had removed their pubic hair on at least one occasion in the past 4 weeks with shaving being the most commonly reported hair removal technique by women (82%) and men (49%). Women were significantly more likely to report their typical status as hair-free (50% vs. 19%; χ(2) = 165.528, P < 0.001) and men were significantly more likely to prefer a hair-free sexual partner (60% vs. 24%; χ(2) = 211.712, P < 0.001). Genital itching was experienced on at least one occasion by 80.3% of pubic hair groomers and was the most commonly reported side effect. CONCLUSION: Genital grooming and pubic hair removal are common practices among both men and women of college-age. Women are likely to report stronger associations with feelings of cleanliness, comfort, sex appeal, social norms of their peer group, and affordability as reasons for their chosen pubic hair style. Women also report more experiences with genital side effects of pubic hair removal, an expected result as women are removing pubic hair more frequently and more completely than their male counterparts.

Men's body depilation: an exploratory study of United States college students' preferences, attitudes, and practices.

Young men in Western cultures frequently engage in body depilation practices, but little is known regarding how such bodies are perceived. This exploratory study asked United States college students (N=238) to view six pictures of the same male body with different amounts of visible body hair and to indicate which body was most sexually attractive to themselves, to most men, and to most women. Both men and women chose a relatively hairless male body as the most sexually attractive. Women, however, thought men would choose a hairier body than men actually did. Most of the men reduced or removed body hair, especially from the pubic area. Questionnaire responses indicated that men and women had similar attitudes toward men's body hair, with both hair reduction and hair retention being socially acceptable. Men's body depilation, while still optional, may be becoming normative, at least among United States college students.

To let hair be, or to not let hair be? Gender and body hair removal practices in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Research and anecdotal evidence suggest women continue to remove body hair, and there is some evidence for cultural changes in men's hair removal practices. This paper reports on data collected using an online mix-methods survey from 584 New Zealanders between the ages of 18-35 (mean age 26, 48.9% male, 50.6% female). The data demonstrated that substantial proportions of both women and men in Aotearoa/New Zealand remove body hair from many sites. However, gendered differences remain, and a key dimension of gendered difference appears in the concept of flexible choice around body hair removal or retention. This was seen in the difference between perceived acceptability of having body hair (81% for men, 11% for women). These findings suggest that although men, like women, are now coming under some pressure to remove body hair, there is still a great difference in men and women's capacity to choose whether to bow to it.

Towards a clean slit: how medicine and notions of normality are shaping female genital aesthetics.

In the West, a specific ideal has emerged for female genitalia. The ideal is one of absence, a clean slit that can be attained through the removal of pubic hair and, increasingly, through female genital cosmetic surgery. This ideal is largely created in the media, which generates contradictory messages for women. The popular press, backed by medical opinion, explicitly acknowledges that a wide range of variation is normal--female genitals vary in appearance 'about as much as snowflakes'--but by showing only altered minimalist clean slits, it carries an implicit message that women should be worried if their genitals do not match up to this exacting ideal. Consequently, some women feel their genitals are not satisfactory and choose surgery. Using biomedicine to fix normal body parts in order to fashion desirable femininity, releases medicine from its rigid scientific underpinnings exposing it as an increasingly cultural and commercial pursuit.

Skin characteristics of Chinese men and their beard removal habits.

BACKGROUND: Grooming habits of men in China have some marked differences from those in other areas in the world, with a high percentage of men resorting to shaving with an electric razor. This is influenced by multiple factors, such as a lower facial hair growth density concentrated in a small area around the mouth. Further, there is limited knowledge and misconceptions around the alleged negative skin effects of blade shaving. OBJECTIVES: To compare skin in the shaved area with that of the rest of the face, and to compare the impact of shaving with a modern three-blade razor vs. electric shaving. METHODS: Pilot clinical studies including 50 and 40 healthy Chinese men, respectively. RESULTS: Skin in the shaved area is different from the rest of the face, with a higher temperature, lower hydration and diminished skin barrier function. Regular shaving with a modern multiblade razor was not statistically different from dry shaving in terms of impact on barrier function. CONCLUSIONS: Shaving with a modern multiblade razor could even deliver certain skin benefits in the area of facial oil control and reducing skin flakes.

[Hair removal repercussions on patient's self-esteem in craniotomy]. / Repercussões na auto-estima provocadas pela tricotomia em craniotomia.

This quantitative-based, prospective-oriented study aims to evaluate the repercussion of hair removal in post-craniotomy's patient self-esteem. Data show that the majority of patients mentioned not having an altered self-esteem due to hair removal; self-esteem was kept the same among patients that were instructed about the hair removal process. The major part of patients made use of accessories as a strategy to hide shaved areas and believed that hair removal damaged neither their quality of life nor their social relationships. We conclude that the feelings directly related to the decrease of self-esteem are loss of physical attraction, insecurity and shame. The employment of accessories is made necessary towards improving self-esteem, and healthcare professionals must work with the psychosocial aspects of pre and post-surgery patients.

Repercussões na auto-estima provocadas pela tricotomia em craniotomia / Repercusiones en la auto estima provocadas por la tricotomía en craneotomía / Hair removal repercussions on patient's self-esteem in craniotomy

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a repercussão da tricotomia na autoestima do paciente no pós-operatório de craniotomia. Estudo quantitativo do tipo prospectivo. Os dados mostram que a maioria dos pacientes referiu não ter sua autoestima alterada em função da tricotomia; predomina a manutenção da autoestima entre os pacientes que receberam orientação sobre a tricotomia; a maioria fez uso de acessórios como estratégia para ocultar a área raspada, e acredita que a tricotomia não prejudica a qualidade de vida nem interfere nas relações sociais. Conclui-se que os sentimentos relacionados à diminuição da autoestima são a perda da atração, a insegurança e a vergonha; há a necessidade de uso de acessórios para melhorar a auto-imagem, e os profissionais da saúde devem trabalhar com os aspectos psicossociais dos pacientes no pré e pós-operatórios.

This quantitative-based, prospective-oriented study aims to evaluate the repercussion of hair removal in post-craniotomy's patient self-esteem. Data show that the majority of patients mentioned not having an altered self-esteem due to hair removal; self-esteem was kept the same among patients that were instructed about the hair removal process. The major part of patients made use of accessories as a strategy to hide shaved areas and believed that hair removal damaged neither their quality of life nor their social relationships. We conclude that the feelings directly related to the decrease of self-esteem are loss of physical attraction, insecurity and shame. The employment of accessories is made necessary towards improving self-esteem, and healthcare professionals must work with the psychosocial aspects of pre and post-surgery patients.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la repercusión de la tricotomía en la auto estima del paciente en el posoperatorio de craneotomía. Estudio cuantitativo del tipo prospectivo. Los datos muestran que la mayoría de los pacientes refirió no tener su auto estima alterada en función de la tricotomía; predomina el mantenimiento de la auto estima entre los pacientes que recibieron orientación sobre la tricotomía; la mayoría hizo uso de accesorios como estrategia para ocultar el área raspada y piensa que la tricotomía no perjudica la calidad de vida y no interfiere en las relaciones sociales. Se concluye que los sentimientos relacionados a la disminución de la auto estima son la pérdida de la atracción, la inseguridad y la vergüenza; hay necesidad de usar de accesorios para mejorar la auto imagen y los profesionales de la salud deben trabajar con los aspectos psicosociales de los pacientes en el pre y pos operatorio.

Hair today, gone tomorrow: a comparison of body hair removal practices in gay and heterosexual men.

Although hairlessness is rapidly becoming a component of the ideal male body, little research has examined men's concerns about their body hair or their hair removal practices. Samples of gay and heterosexual men completed questionnaires that assessed whether they had ever removed their back, buttock or pubic hair, the frequency with which they did so, the methods used and their self-reported reasons for removing this hair, as well as their level of appearance investment. Results indicated that many gay and heterosexual men remove their back, buttock and pubic hair regularly and that their primary reason for doing so is to maintain or improve their appearance. The frequency of hair removal was also associated with the motivational salience component of appearance investment. The findings offer further support to the premise that gay and heterosexual men exhibit similar body image concerns.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures: older women's perceptions and experiences.

This paper analyzes findings from in-depth interviews with 44 women aged 50-70 regarding their perceptions of and experiences with non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections, laser hair removal, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and injectable fillers. While 21 of the women had used a range of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, 23 women had not. The data are discussed in light of feminist theorizing on cosmetic surgery which has tended to ignore the experiences of older women and has been divided in terms of the portrayal of cosmetic surgery as either oppressive or liberating. We found that some of the women used the procedures to increase their physical attractiveness and self-esteem, others viewed the procedures as excessively risky, and still others argued that the procedures stemmed from the social devaluation of later life. Treatments that involved the alteration of the surface of the body tended to be viewed as less risky than the injection of foreign substances into the body.